Kate Winslet and her husband Jim Threapleton's production company, Telltale Films, has signed an exclusive development and production deal with Intermedia.

The company, based at Shepperton Studios, was set up last year and hopes to begin work on its first film in 2001.

Winslet developed a relationship with Intermedia through her work on upcoming movies 'Enigma' and 'Therese Raquin', and explains that she and her husband are "enjoying the exciting depth of writing on offer in the UK and believe we have a number of strong ideas that, with work, will make powerful films."

The actress, who is due to give birth later this year, has just completed work on 'Enigma' (co-starring Dougray Scott and directed by Michael 'The World Is Not Enough' Apted) and is set to star in 'Therese' next spring.